Manti Malietau Louis Te'o (born January 26, 1991, Laie, Hawaii)^[1] is an American collegiate football player. He is a linebacker at the University of Notre Dame.

[edit] Prep career

Teʻo began his high school career at Kahuku High School on the North Shore of Hawaii in 2005. He played on the Red Raiders' junior varsity team and earned team defensive player of the year accolades as a result of his play.

He transferred in 2006 to the Punahou School, a private co-ed institution in downtown Honolulu. Teʻo began his varsity career that year with stellar play that landed him on the second-team all-state roster as a sophomore.

As a junior in 2007, Teʻo was named the state defensive player of the year by the Honolulu Advertiser and the Gatorade state player of the year. He received first-team all-state honors while totaling 90 tackles and five sacks on defense and 400 rushing yards and ten touchdowns as a running back.^[2] Teʻo drew considerable attention from colleges and recruiters in the process.

Teʻo came into his senior year as one of the most celebrated players and recruits both on the state and national levels, landing on a number of national top ten recruiting lists before the start of the season. Teʻo received offers from over 30 college programs. During his senior year, Teʻo helped lead Punahou to its first-ever state championship in football during the 2008 season. He amassed 129 tackles, including 11 sacks, forced three fumbles, tipped four passes and totaled 19 quarterback hurries. On offense at running back, Teʻo rushed for 176 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and four touchdowns and had three receptions, two for touchdowns. He also had three interceptions, returning one 49 yards for a touchdown. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

He received his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award for his play during the season and was named first-team all-state and the state defensive player of the year for the second straight season. Teʻo was such a force that The Honolulu Advertiser considered just naming him the overall state player of the year.^[3] He is regarded as one of the most highly recruited athletes, both in football and for any sport, in the history of the state of Hawaii.

After the year, Te'o participated in the Hawaii Prep Classic and the Under Armour All-America Game, choosing to participate in the latter over the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.^[4] Te'o played in the Under Armour game along with his high school turned collegiate teammate, wide receiver Roby Toma.

[edit] College career

Teʻo committed to the University of Notre Dame on National Signing Day, February 4, 2009.^[5] He chose the Fighting Irish, coached by Charlie Weis, over USC and UCLA. Teʻo is the first USA Today Defensive Player of the Year to commit to the Irish since Kory Minor in 1995.

Te'o made his first collegiate start in the Irish's game against the University of Michigan on September 12, 2009. He played in all 12 games of his freshman season and started in 9 of those 12 games as well. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

On December 8, 2009, he was named a Freshman All-American by College Football News.^[6]

[edit] Statistics

All statistics from Notre Dame Official Athletic Site,^[7]

[edit] Awards and accomplishments

[edit] Football

In 2008, Teʻo won the inaugural Butkus Award at the high school level, awarded to the best prep linebacker in the United States.^[8] He was also named the 2008 Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year, becoming the first person from the state of Hawaii and the first athlete of Polynesian descent to receive the award.^[9] USA Today named Teʻo the national defensive player of the year and a first-team All-American. He is only the third high school player from Hawaii to be named to the USA Today All-American team and the second player from Punahou to earn such a distinction since 1990.^[10] Teʻo was also named to the 2009 Parade All-American team as well.^[11]

[edit] Extra-Curricular

In high school, Te'o had a 3.5 grade-point average and did volunteer work with the Shriners Hospital, Head Start preschool program, Hawai'i Food Bank and Special Olympics. Te'o also became an Eagle Scout in November 2008.^[12] He also plans on taking a two-year Mormon mission in 2010 and is a devout member of the LDS community.^[13]

[edit] List of awards

• 2008 Butkus Award (HS)
• 2008 Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year
• 2008 USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year
• 2009 PARADE All-American
• 2008 Gatorade Hawaii Football Player of the Year
• 2007 Gatorade Hawaii Football Player of the Year
• 2008 Hawaii State Defensive Player of the Year
• 2007 Hawaii State Defensive Player of the Year

[edit] College recruitment and rankings

[edit] Player assessment

All rankings and assessments current as of 01/21/09.

Recruiting Service	Stars/Grade	Position Rank	Overall Rank
Rivals		2	12
Scout		1	6
ESPN	93/100	1	2
Athlon	869/1,000	1	3
O-D	N/A	1	1
Emfinger	1,285	1	7
Tom Lemming	N/A	1	12

[edit] Recruitment honors

Manti Teʻo was awarded the following rankings and accolades by these recruitment and news sources.^[14]

• Rated the top defensive player in the nation and second-best player in the country by Sporting News.
• Rated the second-best overall prospect in the ESPNU150 and best linebacker according to ESPN.
• Ranked fifth nationally in SI/TAKKLE Top 200 for 2008.
• Rated third in 2009 Athlon Consensus 100.
• Ranked sixth nationally by Scout.com and its top linebacker prospect.
• Ranked the 12th-best overall player nationally and second-best inside linebacker by Rivals.com.
• Rated the best player in Hawaii according to Rivals.com's postseason state rankings.
• Listed seventh nationally in Chicago Sun-Times rating of top 100 players.
• Rated the 12th-best all around player by Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports in his Top 100.
• Named to Superprep Elite 50 squad as 12th-best overall player.
• Named to Superprep All-America team as second-best linebacker in the county.
• Named Superprep Far West Defensive Player of the Year.
• Named top overall prospect in the Offense-Defense 100.
• Top vote-getter among defensive players in Long Beach Press-Telegram's 2009 Best in the West team.
• Selected to Western 100 in 2008 by Tacoma News Tribune.
• Named to 2008 MaxPreps All-America first-team defense as a senior.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Player Bio at Notre Dame
• Rivals.com Profile
• Scout.com Profile